How to dice half an Avocado and save the Rest

So how do you dice an avocado? I suppose exactly how you cut it or slice it depends upon how you plan to use the avocado. For me, the majority of the time I want cubes of avocado. I also typically use only half at a time then save the rest. Avocado is a rich fruit – 85% of it’s calories come from fat – the healthy kind of fat though. It’s also loaded with fiber, vitamin K, B vitamins, potassium and much more. Avocado is unique in what it adds to various dishes. So let’s get on with how to cut, dice and store an avocado. This will be a pictorial so get ready for lots of pics. Here’s what I do:

1) Make a circular cut lengthwise around the avocado. Top to bottom, bottom to top.

2) Twist the two halves apart – use gentle firmness.

3) The seed will remain in one half. If you plan to only use one half of the avocado, set the half with the seed to the side for storage. Use the half with no seed for dicing.\

4) Cut flesh of avocado vertically. Press knife through the flesh TO the skin but NOT Through the skin. If your dish requires slices, stop here, slicing the amount and thickness needed.

5) Next cut the flesh horizontally using the same technique. Now you have a checker board of vertical and horizontal cuts.

6) Now press the bottom of the avocado half – skin side – like you are trying to turn the skin inside out. This will allow you to “pop out”

7) Here’s your diced avocado!

8) Save the skin! This becomes the lid for the 2nd half that you plan to store.

9) Avocado with his lid. Isn’t it cute? 😉

10) Wrap with plastic wrap (this is only partially wrapped for picture purposes) then store in fridge. And I know. Plastic wrap has some negative characteristics BUT one roll lasts me more than a year (several probably). There are just some situations where it is by far the more efficient choice. If you have other options/suggestions, I’m open. Please share.

When you get the 2nd half of the avocado out, there will be a few dark places on the flesh – the amount will depend upon how long you have left it in the refrigerator. Obviously the sooner you eat it, the fresher it will be. I usually shoot for 2 to 3 days. What you will do is “whack” the seed with your knife. Do this VERY CAREFULLY. You don’t want to “whack” anything other than the seed. This imbeds the knife into the seed so that you can twist the seed and pull it out. Next, because this one was previously cut and stored, you will need to slice a very thin layer off the top. This will removed the black spots. Now you are ready to slice and dice just like you did on the first half. Note that you want to store your avocados at room temperature until they are ripe. They are ripe when the flesh is firm but has a slight “give” to it. If your avocado is at the right ripeness for eating but you aren’t ready to eat it, then store it in the refrigerator. Storage time is not indefinite though. Try to eat it within 5 to 10 days but that’s a ballpark estimate. It varies depending on the avocado.

11) Using the 2nd half of the avocado after storing in the refrigerator. “Whack” the seed with your knife – very carefully!! (I wish I knew a more technical term to use than “whack”. 😉 ) Then twist the seed to remove it. Tap the seed on the counter or cutting board to remove the knife from the seed.

12) Peel a thin layer off the top to remove the brown spots (oxidized avocado). Sometimes you can just scrape the brown spots off with the edge of the knife. After doing this, your avocado will look nice and fresh – just like the 1st half when you first sliced your avocado. If you want diced watermelon, now go to step #4.

If avocado is new to you, give it a try. It’s wonderful on salad, on a burger (just sliced), on top of rice and beans or burritos, in sandwiches. Truthfully I’m not sure there is much that you couldn’t enhance by adding avocado. Keep in mind that it is high fat (although much less than extracted oils) so don’t go overboard. It’s a great way to cut out other not so healthy fats from your diet. Enjoy. 🙂

Update: I have found a way to avoid the plastic wrap. I have several of these Planet Wise bags in both sandwich and snack size. Usually half an avocado will fit into the snack size well enough. It the avocado is on the large side, I use the sandwich bag. Mine have velcro but it looks like they have another design now with a zipper closure.